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Microsoft Active Directory pros and cons

Vendor: Microsoft
4.3 out of 5
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Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

The ability to manage and enforce user and group policies is highly valued.
Scalability is a key feature, allowing for flexibility and the addition of numerous users.
The integration with Microsoft Office 365 and other cloud services offers a hybrid management solution.
Single Sign-On simplifies access to applications, enhancing user productivity.
It provides centralized authentication and security management, including password policies and user access control.

CONS

Microsoft Active Directory lacks sufficient integration with Mac and IOS products.
Security features in Microsoft Active Directory could be enhanced, including a failure to provide multi-factor authentication.
Microsoft Active Directory faces challenges with hybrid single sign-on, especially with non-Microsoft products, compared to Azure cloud implementations.
Scalability issues exist with Microsoft Active Directory, requiring additional software for network monitoring and management across distributed locations.
Microsoft Active Directory's technical support can be slow to respond and resolve issues, sometimes taking weeks or months.
 

Microsoft Active Directory Pros review quotes

Kazem Mirabedini - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at ddrteam
May 19, 2022
The solution is user-friendly, and I like using Microsoft products. I think there is no other choice for Active Directory. Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory is the best.
Rajitha Abhisheka - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Systems Engineer at Virtual IT Group - Australia
Sep 29, 2022
The Solution's most important feature is that it can merge with a cloud-based active directory via Azure AD Connect.
JK
System Managre at Aligarh Institute of Technology
Nov 2, 2022
It is very user-friendly.
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Active Directory. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,259 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Naveed Ashar - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at PSPC
Nov 17, 2022
The most valuable features are it is easy to use, manage, create a repository, and create the OM.
Timur Assembayev - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at Wattum
Dec 2, 2022
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Active Directory is the group policies.
Hussein Taha - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Enterprise System Administrator at Nafeza
Dec 13, 2022
We can also have separate domain controllers in different Active Directory sites based on their location.
Amjad Ali - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Technical Support at a government with 10,001+ employees
Dec 15, 2022
Audit, authentication and authorization are the best features.
CW
Lead Desktop Support Technician at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Jan 19, 2023
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Active Directory is the ability to search for computers and users. While I do not have administrative privileges to reset passwords, I can view user information such as department, and communicate with someone who can make the changes.
MI
salesmanager at CEW
Jan 26, 2023
Active Directory makes managing user policies easier, like when a user wants to share files. We also use it to create and manage our email accounts.
Feb 13, 2023
It's useful in bringing order to the system.
 

Microsoft Active Directory Cons review quotes

Kazem Mirabedini - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at ddrteam
May 19, 2022
The interface hasn't changed much over the years. It's suitable for my tastes, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it.
Rajitha Abhisheka - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Systems Engineer at Virtual IT Group - Australia
Sep 29, 2022
The interface for logs should be user-friendly and allow for enhanced filtering to drill down to incidents.
JK
System Managre at Aligarh Institute of Technology
Nov 2, 2022
The security features could be improved.
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Active Directory. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,259 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Naveed Ashar - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at PSPC
Nov 17, 2022
I would like to see the integration with Mac and IOS products improved.
Timur Assembayev - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at Wattum
Dec 2, 2022
Microsoft Active Directory could improve by having better integration with other solutions.
Hussein Taha - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Enterprise System Administrator at Nafeza
Dec 13, 2022
If Microsoft is going to add anything to the on-prem solution, it should be an updated GUI.
Amjad Ali - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Technical Support at a government with 10,001+ employees
Dec 15, 2022
There is room for improvement.
CW
Lead Desktop Support Technician at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Jan 19, 2023
There has been a change in the layout of the user information. Previously, I had to go to properties to view the information, but now it is displayed directly below the search results. It takes some time to get used to.
MI
salesmanager at CEW
Jan 26, 2023
It could be more scalable. We still need another software solution to monitor the network in addition to Active Directory and OpManager, our domain controller. We use SolarWinds.
Feb 13, 2023
UI is not very user-friendly.